Product Liability
Fire & Explosion
For over 35 years, our attorneys have represented corporations and individuals connected with catastrophic, high-profile fires and explosions ranging from residential and hotel fires to industrial explosions and terrorist attacks. Serving as national and regional counsel, we help manufacturers, service providers, and energy suppliers limit or eliminate the risk of large damage awards through effective, efficient and innovative client service.
We recognize that fire and explosion cases can be emotionally charged, as they often involve severe injuries, loss of life and significant property damage. So, we emphasize a rapid, focused response to properly address and preempt any problems that might threaten a company’s core business operations. With a deep understanding of both the legal nuances and the chemical and industrial processes at issue in fire and explosion cases, we can identify the best course of action and strategic thinking for protecting the integrity of your company’s product, services, and reputation.
Supporting Evidence
Adair County Explosion, Adair County, Kentucky: January 26, 2016s
4 deaths
Knox Home Explosion, Powell County, Kentucky: September 22, 2011
3 deaths
Carbide Industries industrial Furnace Explosion, Louisville, Kentucky: March 21, 2011
2 deaths; additional injuries
Woodland Home Fire, Louisville, Kentucky: February 1, 2009
2 deaths
Avery Park Apartment Fire, Memphis, Tennessee: 2007
4 deaths, significant property damage
Sofa Super Store Fire, Charleston, South Carolina: June 18, 2007
9 deaths, significant property damage
Johnny Cash Residence Fire, Hendersonville, Tennessee: April 10, 2007
$2.8 million in property damage
Darby Mine Explosion, Holmes Mill, Kentucky: May 20, 2006
5 deaths, additional injuries
Rexnord Industrial Plant Explosion, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 2006
3 deaths, 10 alleged injuries, significant property damage
Mizpah Hotel Fire, Reno, Nevada: 2006
12 deaths
Ivel Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion, Ivel, Kentucky: November 8, 2004
9 injuries alleged
Comfort Inn Hotel Fire, Greenville, South Carolina: January 25, 2004
6 deaths; 15+ injuries alleged
Mountain View Resort and Casino, Pahrump, Nevada: April 29, 2003
$25 million in alleged property and lost profit damages
CTA Acoustics Plant Explosion, Corbin, Kentucky: February 20, 2003
7 deaths; 40+ injuries alleged
Rhode Island Station Nightclub Fire, West Warwick, Rhode Island: February 20, 2003
100 deaths; 100+ injuries alleged
West Pharmaceutical Plant Explosion, Kinston, North Carolina: January 29, 2003
6 deaths; 38 injuries alleged
Oklahoma City Bombing Litigation: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: April 19, 1995
169 deaths; 500 + injuries
San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire, San Juan, Puerto Rico: December 31, 1986
97 deaths; numerous injuries
Happy Land Social Club Fire, New York, New York: March 23, 1990
87 deaths
Imperial Food Products, Hamlet, North Carolina: September 3, 1991
25 deaths
Meridian Plaza Fire, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: February 23-24, 1991
3 deaths; $1 billion in damages
MGM Grand Hotel Fire, Las Vegas, Nevada: November 21, 1980
85 deaths
Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire, Southgate, Kentucky: May 28, 1977
165 deaths
Air Canada Litigation, Covington, Kentucky: June 2, 1983
23 deaths
Howard Johnson/Holiday Inn Fire, Bowling Green, Kentucky: January 6, 1996
4 deaths; 16 injured
Hexane Gas Sewer Explosion Litigation, Louisville, Kentucky: February 13, 1981
$60 million in damage
Younkers Department Store, Des Moines, Iowa: November 5, 1978
10 deaths
Sixth Avenue Telephone Exchange, New York, New York: February 27, 1975
100+ injured
Our attorneys have also served as national, regional, or local counsel in a variety of significant product liability matters, including:
- National counsel for Fire Litigation for CNH America LLC, a manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment
- National coordinating counsel for manufacturers of lawn care chemicals, household appliances, hand and power tools and commercial playground equipment
- Represented Bridgestone/Firestone in product liability cases filed arising from a national tire recall
- Defended Noveon, Inc., a specialty chemicals manufacturer, in multiple personal injury lawsuits arising from alleged exposure to hydrogen chloride gas inadvertently released from Noveon’s facility
- Represented defendants in numerous drug and medical device serial litigation matters, including the FenPhen diet drug litigation, latex glove litigation, OxyContin litigation, Rezulin litigation and mechanical heart valve litigation. We also represented manufacturers and distributors of a wide variety of other products, including materials handling equipment; farm and agricultural machinery; construction products and equipment; machine tools; commercial food preparation equipment; boilers, furnaces, fans and electronic air cleaners; propane delivery systems; and smoke detectors
- Defended General Electric Company, a government contractor, in several class action lawsuits arising from alleged exposure to high levels of uranium and uranium contaminants at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky
- Defeated certification of an alleged nationwide class action filed against ChemLawn by individuals claiming a variety of injuries from exposure to pesticides. Thereafter, acted as national counsel to defend individual actions evolving from the denial of class certification
- Counsel for Westinghouse in cases stemming from alleged exposure to PCBs. We received summary judgment in all cases but one, which eventually settled for nuisance value